SEC Company Response from COMMERCEFIRST BANCORP INC (CIK 0001098813) — Sep 9, 2005
COMMERCEFIRST BANCORP INC (CIK 0001098813)
Date: Sept. 9, 2005 · CIK: 0001098813 · Accession: 0001125282-05-004740
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
Referenced dates: August 30, 2005
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[KENNEDY & BARIS, L.L.P. LETTERHEAD]
September 9, 2005
VIA EDGAR
Ms. Joyce Sweeney
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 5th Street, NW
Mail Stop 4561
Washington DC 20549
RE: CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc., Commission File No. 0-51104
Form 10-KSB for the period ended December 31, 2004
Dear Ms. Sweeney:
On behalf of CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), we hereby
enclose the Company's response to your comment letter dated August 30, 2005 in
respect of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended
December 31, 2004. For convenience we have preceded each of the Company's
responses with the Commission staff's comment.
EXHIBIT 13 - 2004 ANNUAL REPORT
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 10 - INCOME TAXES, PAGE 28
1. WE NOTE THAT YOU RECORDED A $944 THOUSAND REDUCTION OF YOUR VALUATION
ALLOWANCE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2004, REDUCING IT TO ZERO. PLEASE REFER
TO PARAGRAPHS 21 - 23 OF SFAS 109 AND PROVIDE US WITH YOUR COMPREHENSIVE
ANALYSIS OF HOW YOU DETERMINED THE AMOUNT OF YOUR DEFERRED TAX ASSET
VALUATION ALLOWANCE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2003 AND DECEMBER 31, 2004.
The determination by the Company in the third quarter of 2004 to reduce
the valuation allowance relating to the deferred tax asset was based on
the conclusion of Company management and the audit committee of the Board
of Directors, reached in consultation with the independent auditor as to
the requirements of generally accepted accounting principles, that as of
that time it was more than likely than not that the deferred asset would
be recognized, in accordance with Paragraph 17(e) of SFAS 109, and in
light of the applicable factors and examples discussed in paragraphs 21 -
23. The valuation allowance was subject to repeated analysis and
discussion among Company management, the audit committee and the Company's
independent auditor. In reaching this conclusion the positive and negative
evidence bearing on the question of whether the Company would be able to
utilize the deferred asset prior to its expiration was considered. In
particular, the following facts and circumstances were considered and
understood:
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Ms. Joyce Sweeney
September 9, 2005
Page 2
o The Company had then achieved sustained core operating profitability in
each month over a fifteen month period, including earnings of
approximately $198 thousand for the first six months of 2004, and at
the then current rate of earnings, would utilize the net operating loss
over a period of two and a half to three years.
o The Company had received regulatory approval of its application to
establish a second banking office, in Prince George's County, Maryland,
which opened on September 30, 2004. The second office would serve to
support a loan and business development officer hired in February 2004.
The second office would permit a focus for additional expansion of
development efforts in Prince George's, and was expected to result in
expanded rates of growth and growth in income.
o The Company was engaged in efforts to raise approximately $10 million
in additional capital in an underwritten offering or a combination
rights offering/underwritten offering, which would permit the Company
to maintain a higher level of loans and investment securities, an
increased lending limit, and permit the Bank to compete more
effectively against larger institutions, and as such was expected to
result in asset growth and higher income. The Company ultimately raised
approximately $10 million in the combined offering, which closed in the
first quarter of 2005. The additional capital, combined with
anticipated earnings and options exercises, was expected to permit
continued operations and growth for a period of at least two to three
years before additional capital would become necessary.
o The strength and experience of senior management, business development
officers and the Board of Directors.
Based on the foregoing positive factors, the Company believed that there
would be sufficient taxable income in the carryforward period to utilize
the deferred tax asset, and in accordance with paragraph 21 of SFAS 109,
and with the concurrence of its independent auditor, determined to
eliminate the valuation allowance.
We note that the initial determination to effect the recognition was made
in August 2004, prior to the unanticipated deterioration of an
approximately $960 thousand loan relationship that resulted in a special
provision for loan losses of $350 thousand made on September 16, 2005. The
impact of the special provision, credit quality issues relating to this
loan and the loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses in general on
the prior determination to effect the reduction in the valuation allowance
was considered, and it was determined that the unique circumstances
surrounding the deterioration of this relationship did not materially
alter the expectation that the Company would have sufficient earnings
within a three year timeframe to utilize the deferred tax asset. The
Company was ultimately profitable in each quarter of 2004, and had pre-tax
profitability of $227 thousand, including the effect of the September 2004
loan provision.
For the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company engaged in a comparable
analysis and discussions among management, the audit committee and the
independent auditor. In respect of that year, the following facts and
circumstances were considered and understood:
o The Company has a history of cumulative losses from its date of
organization though the end of the year ended December 31, 2002, which
then stood at approximately $(2.5 million). As noted in paragraphs 23
and 103 of SFAS 109, a cumulative loss in recent years is a significant
piece of negative evidence that is difficult to overcome.
o The Company, while achieving its first month to month profitability in
January 2003, was only marginally profitable on a monthly basis, and
had a net profit of only $142 thousand in 2003, reflecting a return on
assets of 0.33% and a return on equity of 2.5%.
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Ms. Joyce Sweeney
September 9, 2005
Page 3
Based on the foregoing factors, the Company did not believe that there was
sufficient quality or quantity of sustained earnings or other positive
evidence to overcome the negative factors, and therefore, with the
concurrence of its independent auditors, determined to maintain a
valuation allowance equal to 100% of the deferred tax asset (other than
the portion related to net unrealized gains on available for sale
securities) to reduce the value of the deferred tax asset. The Company and
its auditors did not believe a partial valuation allowance was
appropriate, given (i) the principal component of the deferred asset was
the net operating loss carryforward, and (ii) the conclusion that there
was insufficient basis to say that it was more likely than not that the
Company would be able to utilize the deferred asset in the carryforward
period.
ITEM 8A - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES, PAGE 11
2. WE NOTE YOUR DISCLOSURE THAT YOUR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE COMPANY'S DISCLOSURE
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES WERE ADEQUATE. IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT YOUR
CERTIFYING OFFICERS REACHED A CONCLUSION THAT YOUR DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND
PROCEDURES ARE EFFECTIVE. PLEASE TELL US YOUR CERTIFYING OFFICERS'
CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND
PROCEDURES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004. PLEASE REVISE YOUR DISCLOSURES IN
FUTURE FILINGS TO ADDRESS YOUR OFFICERS' CONCLUSION REGARDING THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
On behalf of the Company, we hereby advise you that the Company's
principal executive and principal financial officer determined that the
Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring material
information required to be disclosed was recorded, processed, summarized, as of
December 31, 2004. The Company will revise its disclosure in filings made after
the date of this letter to address the officers' conclusions as to the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures.
Enclosed with this letter please find the requested written
acknowledgement statement from the Company.
Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at 301.229.3400 (x18),
by fax at 301.229.2443, or by email at nmgruber@kblbanklaw.com, if you have any
questions regarding this response, have any further comments, or require further
information.
Sincerely,
/s/ Noel M. Gruber
Noel M. Gruber
cc: Sharon Johnson (via telecopier 202.722.9208)
Richard Morgan
Lamont Thomas
Mark Welsh
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COMMERCEFIRST BANCORP, INC.
1804 WEST STREET, SUITE 200
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 21401
September 8, 2005
VIA EDGAR
Ms. Joyce Sweeney
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 5th Street, NW
Mail Stop 4561
Washington DC 20549
RE: CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc., Commission File No. 0-51104
Form 10-KSB for the period ended December 31, 2004
Dear Ms. Sweeney:
In connection with the response of CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc. (the
"Company") to the comment letter of Commission staff dated August 30, 2005
relating to the Company's Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2004 (the
"Filing"), the Company, by its duly elected and currently serving officer, does
hereby acknowledge that:
o The Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the Filing;
o Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff
comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with
respect to the Filing; and
o The Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any
proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the
federal securities laws of the United States.
Sincerely,
COMMERCEFIRST BANCORP, INC.
By: /s/ Richard J. Morgan
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Richard J. Morgan
President and Chief Executive Officer
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